Sugar Creek

Project Description

The project encompasses approximately 9,727 linear feet and ends at the mouth of Sugar Creek, where it joins the Lower Duck River. A major portion of this section of Sugar Creek was realigned and straightened during the construction of Interstate 40. The existing channels are highly degraded due to this past channelization, as well as unrestricted livestock access and riparian vegetation removal. As a result, portions of the project reach are essentially featureless, predominately made up of long runs with very poor bed form diversity, while other portions exhibit severely eroding streambanks that are contributing a large volume of sediment to both Sugar Creek and ultimately the Duck River. The primary goals of the project included improving water quality, enhancing aquatic habitat and restoring riparian habitat. Restoring a more natural channel dimension, pattern and planform and reconnecting to a functional floodplain reduced flood velocities, reduced/eliminated excessive fine sediment inputs into the receiving streams, and more effectively transport sediments provided by the watershed. The diversity and quality of aquatic habitat in the reach was improved through the use of instream structures and the incorporation of large woody debris to create and maintain more bed variability and habitat types. Native woody and herbaceous species were used to reestablish naturally diverse buffers for improved nutrient filtering function and riparian habitat.